SD Gov Will Not Intervene In Death Penalty Cases

October 11, 2012, 3:31 PM

PIERRE, SD -

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard says he does not plan to intervene in the upcoming executions of two men.

Fifty-year-old Eric Robert is scheduled to die by lethal injection sometime next week for the killing of prison guard Ronald Johnson. Sixty-year-old Donald Moeller is scheduled to die during the week of Oct. 28 for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Becky O'Connell.

In a statement released to the media, Daugaard says he has no reason to change the judgment reached by criminal justice system.

He says state law allows him to conduct his own investigation, which he did with the cooperation of Attorney General Marty Jackley.

Barring an unforeseen circumstance, he says he will not prevent or intervene in the sentence being carried out.